Sundance Film Festival Documentary Award Winners
2011 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
HOW TO DIE IN OREGON
Directed by Peter Richardson
Directing Award
Jon Foy
RESURRECT DEAD: THE MYSTERY OF THE TOYNBEE TILES
Editing Award
Matthew Hamachek and Marshall Curry
IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT
Cinematography Award
Eric Strauss, Ryan Hill and Peter Hutchens
THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL BUTT NAKED
Special Jury Prize
BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER'S JOURNEY
Directed by Constance Marks
Audience Award
BUCK
Directed by Cindy Meehl
Jury: Jeffrey Blitz, Jess Search, Laura Poitras, Matt Groening and Sloane Klevin
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
HELL AND BACK AGAIN
Directed by Danfung Dennis
Directing Award
James Marsh
PROJECT NIM
Editing Award
Goran Hugo Olsson and Hanna Lejonqvist
THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975
Cinematography Award
Danfung Dennis
HELL AND BACK AGAIN
Special Jury Prize
POSITION AMONG THE STARS
Directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich
Audience Award
SENNA
Directed by Asif Kapadia
2010 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
RESTREPO
Directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
Directing Award
Leon Gast
SMASH HIS CAMERA
Editing Award
Penelope Falk
JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
Cinematography Award
Kirsten Johnson and Laura Poitras
THE OATH
Special Jury Prize
GASLAND
Directed by Josh Fox
Audience Award
WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
Jury: Dayna Goldfine, Greg Barker, Morgan Spurlock, Nancy Miller and Ondi Timoner
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
THE RED CHAPEL
Directed by Mads Brügger
Directing Award
Christian Frei
SPACE TOURISTS
Editing Award
Joëlle Alexis
A FILM UNFINISHED
Cinematography Award
Kate McCullough and Michael Lavelle
HIS & HERS
Special Jury Prize
ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE
Directed by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath
Audience Award
WASTE LAND
Directed by Lucy Walker
Jury: Asako Fujioka, Jeffrey Brown and Jennifer Baichwal,
2009 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
WE LIVE IN PUBLIC
Directed by Ondi Timoner
Directing Award
Natalia Almada
EL GENERAL
Editing Award
Karen Schmeer
SERGIO
Cinematography Award
Bob Richman
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
Special Jury Prize
GOOD HAIR
Directed by Jeff Stilson
Audience Award
THE COVE
Directed by Louie Psihoyos
Jury: Andrea Meditch, Carl Deal, Marina Zenovich, Patrick Creadon and Sam Pollard
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
ROUGH AUNTIES
Directed by Kim Longinotto
Directing Award
Havana Marking
AFGHAN STAR
Editing Award
Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros
BURMA VJ
Cinematography Award
John Maringouin
BIG RIVER MAN
Special Jury Prize
TIBET IN SONG
Directed by Ngawang Choephel
Audience Award
AFGHAN STAR
Directed by Havana Marking
Jury: Gillian Armstrong, Hubert Sauper and Thom Powers
2008 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
TROUBLE THE WATER
Directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin
Directing Award
Annette Burstein
AMERICAN TEEN
Editing Award
Joe Bini
ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED
Cinematography Award
Phillip Hunt and Steven Sebring
PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE
Special Jury Prize
THE GREATEST SILENCE: RAPE IN THE CONGO
Directed by Lisa F. Jackson
Audience Award
FIELDS OF FUEL
Directed by Josh Tickell
Jurors: Annie Sundberg, Eugene Jarecki, Heidi Ewing, Michelle Byrd, Steven Okazaki
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
MAN ON WIRE
Directed by James Marsh
Directing Award
Jacek Petrycki
DURAKAVO: VILLAGE OF FOOLS
Editing Award
Irena Dol
THE ART STAR AND THE SUDANESE TWINS
Cinematography Award
Mahmood al Massad
RECYCLE
Audience Award
MAN ON WIRE
Directed by James Marsh
Jurors: Amir Bar-Lev, Ilda Santiago, Lena Pasanen
2007 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET)
Directed by Jason Kohn
Directing Award
Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine
WAR/DANCE
Editing Award
Charlton McMillan, Hibah Sherif Frisina and Michael Schweitzer
NANKING
Cinematography Award
Heloisa Passos
MANDA BALA (SEND A BULLET)
Special Jury Prize
NO END IN SIGHT
Directed by Charles Ferguson
Audience Award
HEAR AND NOW
Directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky
Jury: Alan Berliner, Carlos Sandoval, Julia Reichert, Lauren Greenfield and Lewis Erskine
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS
Directed by Anja Al Erhayem and Eva Mulvad
Special Jury Prize
HOT HOUSE
Directed by Shimon Dotan
Audience Award
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON
Directed by David Sington
Jury: Juan Carlos Rulfo, Elizabeth Weatherford and Raoul Peck
2006 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
GOD GREW TIRED OF US
Directed by Christopher Quinn
Directing Award
James Longley
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
Editing Award
James Longley
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
Cinematography Award
James Longley
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
Special Jury Prize
TV JUNKIE
Directed by Matt Radecki and Michael Cain
Special Jury Prize
AMERICAN BLACKOUT
Directed by Ian Inaba
Audience Award
GOD GREW TIRED OF US
Directed by Christopher Quinn
Jury: Alexander Payne, Andrew Jarecki, Heather Rae, Joe Bini and Zana Briskie
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
IN THE PIT
Directed by Juan Carlos Rulfo
Special Jury Prize
DEAR PYONGYANG
Directed by Yonghi Yang
Special Jury Prize
INTO GREAT SILENCE
Directed by Philip Gröning
Audience Award
DeNADIE
Directed by Tin Dirdamal
Jury: Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Kate Amend and Rachel Perkins
2005 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
WHY WE FIGHT
Directed by Eugene Jarecki
Directing Award
Jeff Feuerzeig
THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Gary Griffin
THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX
Special Jury Prize for Editing
Conor O'Neill and Geoffrey Richman
MURDERBALL
Special Jury Prize
AFTER INNOCENCE
Directed by Jessica Sanders
Audience Award
MURDERBALL
Directed by Dana Adam Shapiro and Henry Alex Rubin
Jury: Gail Dolgin, Jean-Philippe Boucicaut, Jehane Noujaim, Stacy Peralta and Steve James
World Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
SHAPE OF THE MOON
Directed by Leonard Retel Helmrich
Special Jury Prize
WALL
Directed by Simone Bitton
Special Jury Prize
THE LIBERACE OF BAGHDAD
Directed by Sean McAllister
Jury: Jean Perret, Miriam Cutler and Penny Woolcock
2004 Festival
US Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
DIG!
Directed by Ondi Timoner
Directing Award
Morgan Spurlock
SUPER SIZE ME
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Ferne Pearlstein
IMELDA
The Freedom of Expression Award
REPATRIATION
Directed by Kim Dong-won
Special Jury Prize
FARMINGVILLE
Directed by Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini
Audience Award
BORN INTO BROTHELS
Directed by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski
Jury: Chris Smith, Mary Ellen Mark, Robb Moss, Robert Sheppard and Rory Kennedy
World Documentary Award Winners
Audience Award
THE CORPORATION
Directed by Jennifer Abbott and Mark Achbar
2003 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS
Directed by Andrew Jarecki
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Dana Kupper, Gordon Quinn and Peter Gilbert
STEVIE
The Freedom of Expression Award
WHAT I WANT MY WORDS TO DO TO YOU
Directed by Gary Sunshine, Judith Katz and Madeleine Gavin
Audience Award
MY FLESH AND BLOOD
Directed by Jonathan Karsh
Jury: Avon Kirkland, Doug Pray, Lesli Klainberg, Nanette Burstein, Susan Fromke
2002 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
DAUGHTER FROM DANANG
Directed by Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco
Directing Award
Rebecca Cammisa and Rob Fruchtman
SISTER HELEN
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Daniel B. Gold
BLUE VINYL
Special Jury Prize
SENORITA EXTRAVIADA
Directed by Lourdes Portillo
Special Jury Prize
HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY
Directed by John Walter
The Freedom of Expression Award
AMANDLA! A REVOLUTION IN FOUR PART HARMONY
Directed by Lee Hirsch
Audience Award
AMANDLA! A REVOLUTION IN FOUR PART HARMONY
Directed by Lee Hirsch
Jury: Alanis Obomsawin, Frances Reid, Jeffrey Friedman, Jytte Jensen and Stanley Nelson
2001 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
SOUTHERN COMFORT
Directed by Kate Davis
Directing Award
Stacy Peralta
DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Albert Maysles
LALEE'S KIN: THE LEGACY OF COTTON
Special Jury Prize
CHILDREN UNDERGROUND
Directed by Edet Belzberg
The Freedom of Expression Award
SCOUT'S HONOR
Directed by Tom Shepard
Jury: Anne Makepeace, Freida Lee Mock, Merata Mita, R.J. Cutler and Randy Barbato
2000 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
LONG NIGHT'S JOURNEY INTO DAY
Directed by Deborah Hoffman and Frances Reid
Directing Award
Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein
PARAGRAPH 175
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Andrew Young
AMERICANOS: LATINO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES
The Freedom of Expression Award
DARK DAYS
Directed by Marc Singer
Jury: Ally Derks, Jennifer Taylor, Jessica Yu, Jon Else and Vikram Jayanti
1999 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
AMERICAN MOVIE
Directed by Chris Smith
Directing Award
Barbara Sonneborn
REGRET TO INFORM
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Daniel Reeves, Emiko Omori and Nancy Schiesan
REGRET TO INFORM
Filmmaker Trophy
SING FASTER: THE STAGEHANDS' RING CYCLE
Directed by Jon Else
The Freedom of Expression Award
THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS
Directed by Stanley Nelson
Special Jury Award
ON THE ROPES
Directed by Brett Morgan and Nanette Burstein
Audience Award
GENGHIS BLUES
Directed by Roko Belic
Jury: Annie Frazier Henry, Kirby Dick, Michel Negroponte, Ray Telles and Tina DiFeliciantonio
1998 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
FRAT HOUSE
Directed by Andrew Gurland and Todd Phillips
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
THE FARM: ANGOLA, USA
Directed by Jonathan Stack and Liz Garbus
Directing Award
Julia Loktev
MOMENT OF IMPACT
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Tom Hurwitz
WILD MAN BLUES
Filmmaker Trophy
DIVINE TRASH
Directed by Steve Yeager
The Freedom of Expression Award
THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION PART III
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
Audience Award
OUT OF THE PAST
Directed by Jeff Dupre
Jury: Christine Choy, Lisa Leeman, Nick Broomfield, Pamela Yates and Steven Ascher
1997 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
GIRLS LIKE US
Directed by Jane C. Wagner and Tina DiFeliciantonio
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Christine Choy
MY AMERICA...OR HONK IF YOU LOVE BUDDHA
Filmmaker Trophy
LICENSED TO KILL
Directed by Arthur Dong
The Freedom of Expression Award
FEAR AND LEARNING AT HOOVER ELEMENTARY
Directed by Laura Angelica Simon
Special Jury Award
SICK: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BOB FLANAGAN, SUPERMASOCHIST
Directed by Kirby Dick
Audience Award
PAUL MONETTE: THE BRINK OF SUMMER'S END
Directed by Monte Bramer
Jury: Deborah Hoffman, Jerret Engle, Joe Berlinger, Lourdes Portillo and Michael Lumpkin
1996 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
TROUBLESOME CREEK: A MIDWESTERN
Directed by Jeanne Jordan and Steven Ascher
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Andrew Young
CUTTING LOOSE
The Freedom of Expression Award
THE CELLULOID CLOSET
Directed by Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein
Special Jury Award
WHEN WE WERE KINGS
Directed by Leon Gast
Jury: Ada Gay Griffin, Alan Raymond, Ellen Schneider, Joan Churchill and Theodore Thomas
1995 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
CRUMB
Directed by Terry Zwigoff
Filmmaker Trophy
BLACK IS... BLACK AIN'T
Directed by Marlon T. Riggs
The Freedom of Expression Award
WHEN BILLY BROKE HIS HEAD...AND OTHER TALES OF WONDER
Directed by Billy Golfus and David E. Simpson
Audience Award
BALLOT MEASURE 9
Directed by Heather MacDonald
Audience Award
UNZIPPED
Directed by Douglas Keeve
Jury: Arthur Dong, Patricia Aufderheide, Peter Gilbert, Ross McElwee and Susan Todd
1994 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
FREEDOM ON MY MIND
Directed by Connie Field and Marilyn Mulford
Filmmaker Trophy
THEREMIN: AN ELECTRONIC ODYSSEY
Directed by Steven M. Martin
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Morten Sandtroen
COLORADO COWBOY: THE BRUCE FORD STORY
The Freedom of Expression Award
HEART OF THE MATTER
Directed by Amber Hollibaugh and Gini Reticker
The Freedom of Expression Award
DIALOGUES WITH MADWOMEN
Directed by Allie Light
Special Jury Award
COMING OUT UNDER FIRE
Directed by Arthur Dong
Audience Award
HOOP DREAMS
Directed by Steve James
Jury: Barbara Hammer, Betsy McLane, Bill Couterie, Chris Hegedus and Marco Williams
1993 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
SILVERLAKE LIFE: THE VIEW FROM HERE
Directed by Peter Friedman and Tom Joslin
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Andrew Young and Robert M. Young
CHILDREN OF FATE
Special Jury Award
EARTH AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
Directed by Bill Couterie
Audience Award
SOMETHING WITHIN ME
Directed by Emma Joan Morris
Jury: Barbara Kopple, Rob Epstein, Ron Mann and Renee Tajima-Pena
1992 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME
Directed by Errol Morris
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
FINDING CHRISTA
Directed by Camille Billops and James Hatch
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Katheleen Beeler and Trinh T. Minh-ha
SHOOT FOR THE CONTENTS
Special Jury Award
MY CRASY LIFE
Directed by Jean-Pierre Gorin
Audience Award
BROTHER'S KEEPER
Directed by Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger
Jury: Berenice Reynaud, Isaac Julien, Stephanie Black, William Greaves
1991 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
AMERICAN DREAM
Directed by Barbara Kopple
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
PARIS IS BURNING
Directed by Jennie Livingston
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Albert Maysles and David Maysles
CHRISTO IN PARIS
Filmmaker Trophy
AMERICAN DREAM
Directed by Barbara Kopple
Audience Award
AMERICAN DREAM
Directed by Barbara Kopple
Jury: Amy Taubin, Jill Godmilow, Marcel Ophul and St. Clair Bourne
1990 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
H-2 WORKER
Directed by Stephanie Black
Grand Jury Prize (tie)
WATER AND POWER
Directed by Pat O'Neill
Filmmaker Trophy
METAMORPHOSIS: MAN INTO WOMAN
Directed by Lisa Leeman
Audience Award
BERKELEY IN THE SIXTIES
Directed by Mark Kitchell
Jury: Christine Choy, Ed Lachman, Michael Renov, Orlando Bagwell, Susan Fromke
1989 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
FOR ALL MANKIND
Directed by Al Reinert
Filmmaker Trophy
JOHN HUSTON: THE MAN, THE MOVIES, THE MAVERICK
Directed by Frank Martin
Jury: Dennis O'Rourke, Elliot Caplan, Jean Pierre-Gorin, Karen Cooper and Nick Hart Williams
1988 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
BEIRUT: THE LAST HOME MOVIE
Directed by Jennifer Fox
Excellence in Cinematography Award
Alex Nepomniaschy
BEIRUT: THE LAST HOME MOVIE
Special Jury Award
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE
Directed by Antony Thomas
Special Jury Award
DEAR AMERICA: LETTERS HOME FROM VIETNAM
Directed by Bill Couterie
Jury: Christian Blackwood, Lourdes Patillo, Richard Leacock and Tim Cowling
1987 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
SHERMAN'S MARCH
Directed by Ross McElwee
Excellence in Cinematography Award
David Knaus and Peter Schnall
CHILE: WHEN WILL IT END? (CHILE: HASTA QUANDO?)
Special Jury Award
CHILE: WHEN WILL IT END? (CHILE: HASTA QUANDO?)
Directed by David Bradbury
Special Jury Award
DEAR AMERICA: LETTERS HOME FROM VIETNAM
Directed by Bill Couterie
Jury: David Loxton, Jayne Loader, Peter Biskind, Robert Gardner and Sheila Benson
1986 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS
Directed by Christian Blackwood
Special Jury Award
LAS MADRES: THE MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO
Directed by Lourdes Portillo and Susana Munoz
Jury: David Fanning, Dennis O'Rourke, Julia Reichert and Ron Mann
1985 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
SEVENTEEN
Directed by Jeff Kreines and Joel Demott
Special Jury Award
AMERICA AND LEWIS HINE
Directed by Nina Rosenblum
Special Jury Award
IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER?
Directed by Les Blank
Special Jury Award
KADDISH
Directed by Steve Brand
Special Jury Award
STREETWISE
Directed by Martin Bell
Special Jury Award
THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK
Directed by Rob Epstein
Jury: Barbara Kopple, D.A. Pennebaker and Frederick Wiseman
1984 Festival
Documentary Award Winners
Grand Jury Prize
STYLE WARS
Directed by Tony Silver
Honorable Mention
SEEING RED
Directed by James Klein and Julia Reichert
Honorable Mention
THE GOOD FIGHT (THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR)
Directed by Mary Dore, Noel Buckner and Sam Sills
Special Jury Prize
WHEN THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE
Directed by Pamela Yates and Thomas Sigel
Special Jury Prize
THE SECRET AGENT
Directed by Jacki Ochs
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